Survey Says: Home-buyers prefer full REALTOR® service

Technology is dominating many aspects of the real estate transaction process, but the most important factors remain purely human, according to a large survey of home-buyers and sellers released by the National Association of REALTORS®.

David Lerah, NAR’s chief economist, said that for the first time the association is able to quantify the popularity of different kinds of brokerage services.

“What we find is that competition is alive and well, fueled by the growth in technology, and that consumers largely prefer more traditional methods of buying and selling homes,” Lerah said.

“In finding a home, most home-buyers begin the search process online, but most often learn about the home they buy from a real estate agent. Even though many other buyers are first learning about the home they buy online, they’re still purchasing through an agent — they value the skills professionals bring to the table.”

The 2006 profile of home-buyers was based on more than 7,500 responses to a questionnaire mailed to a large national sample of consumers located throughout the country.

Most sellers prefer a full-service brokerage where professionals handle all aspects of the transaction process from listing to closing, including preparation of the home for sale, pricing, marketing, showing the home, contract negotiations and closing.